Novena to Saint Augustine of Hippo Day 6

AUGUSTINE MODEL OF HUMILITY

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.


INTRODUCTION
Humility is attained only in battle.  The importance of tribulations in your spiritual life lies in the fact that only through such trials do you acquire true humility.  You see clearly the futility of your own efforts and the importance of God becoming your Savior…Prided is the ultimate temptation that is never conquered. (Pause)


READING: From the Book IF AUGUSTINE WERE ALIVE
For Augustine, humility does not consist in putting ourselves down, having a poor self-image of ourselves, failing to appreciate or develop our God-given talents and other gifts.  Augustine even accuses people who act like immature adults “milk drinkers” instead of mature adults who take solid foods to nourish themselves and make progress in their faith. His description of humility is simple and straightforward, “No one is telling you: be less than you are, but to know that you are man, know yourself in sinner.  Know that it He (God) who frees you from blame; Know that you are tarnished.  Let your confession  reveal the stain of your heart, and you will belong to the flock of God” (end of the reading)

Moments of reflection-If humility is truth, how do I make this come alive in terms of my relationship with others in community?

LITANY IN HONOR OF SAINT AUGUSTINE

Lord, have mercy on us  
Lord, have mercy on us

Christ, have mercy on us                                                      
Christ, have mercy on us

God the Father of Heaven                                                  
Have mercy on us

God the Son, Redeemer of the World                                  
Have mercy on us

God, the Holy Spirit                                                              
Have mercy on us

Holy Trinity, one God                                                            
Have mercy on us

Mary, Mother of Jesus                                                          
Pray for us

Mary, Mother of Consolation                                                
Pray for us

Mary, Mother of Good Counsel                                              
Pray for us

St. Augustine, bright star of the Church                                
Pray for us

St. Augustine, filled with zeal for God’s glory                        
Pray for us

St. Augustine, dauntless defender of the truth                    
Pray for us

St. Augustine, the triumph of divine grace                            
Pray for us

St. Augustine, on fire with the love of God                            
Pray for us

St. Augustine, so great and so humble                                  
Pray for us

St. Augustine, prince of bishops and doctors                        
Pray for us

St. Augustine, father of monastic life                                      
Pray for us

St. Augustine, holiest of the wise and wisest of the holy      
Pray for us

Pray for us St. Augustine
That may become worthy of the promises of Christ.


CONCLUDING PRAYER

Incline our hearts to your goodness, O Lord and turn our eyes from vanities and pride that we may be followers of your words.  Learn from me because I am weak and humble of heart.  Grant that we may grow daily  in the virtue of humility so dear to the heart of our Father Saint Augustine.  Amen.

http://www.rcam.org/novena-guide/246-novena-to-our-father-saint-augustine

Novena to Saint Monica Day 7

Day Seven

Today we pray for those who are resisting Your call due to pressures
from friends and family members. May the Holy Spirit give them
strength in their convictions and may the Holy Spirit fill the hearts of
their friends and family with love and support. (Pray Novena Prayers

Novena Prayers:

Exemplary mother of the Great Augustine, you perseveringly
pursued your wayward son…not with wild threats but with
prayerful cries to heaven. Intercede for all mothers in our day so
that they may learn to draw their children to God.
Teach us to remain close to all God’s children, even the prodigal
sons and daughters who have sadly gone astray.
Dear St. Monica, troubled wife and mother, many sorrows
pierced your heart during your lifetime. Yet, you never despaired
or lost faith. With confidence, persistence, and profound faith,
you prayed daily for the conversion of your beloved husband,
Patricius and your beloved son, Augustine.
Grant me that same fortitude, patience, and trust in the Lord. Intercede
for me, dear St. Monica, that God may favorably hear my
plea for (names of those you are praying for) and grant me the grace
to accept His will in all things, through Jesus Christ, our Lord,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God forever and ever. Amen.

Pray Hail Mary 3 times

Pray Glory Be 3 times

St. Monica, pray for us

Intentions

http://www.stthomasaquinas.org/sites/default/files/pdflibrary/StMonicaNovena.pdf

Novena to Saint Augustine of Hippo Day 5

FRIENDSHIP IN COMMUNITY

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Introduction

“What drew me closest to my brothers and sisters was the delight of chatting and laughing together, of showing our affection for one another by kindly services, of reading together from books that spoke of pleasant things, of joking together amicably, of disputing now and then but without resentment, as one is wont to do with himself, of awakening by rare contest the pleasure of being one in mind, of mutually instructing on another, of longing for the absent one, and tasting joy of his return.  We loved each other with all our hearts, and these marks of our friendship that were shown in our faces, by our voices, in our eyes and a thousand other ways, were among us like ardent flames that fused our soul together, and of many made but one.”

Let us reflect on our experience of friendship in our community.  Am I happy about it…?  Is there something that needs to be improved…? (Paused)


Reading: From the Book “IF ST. AUSGUSTINE WERE ALIVE”
The idea of friendship is at the very heart of the Rule, for those who are one in heart and soul are clearly friends, in God above all, but through God, also in their love and care for one another.  True friendship is based on unselfish love, and surely this is what Augustine is truing to say, when he urges religious to grow in love by putting the common interest ahead of his own.  He makes very clear that when religious seek common interest first, they also are really seeking their own deepest interest, because they are committed to becoming one community in Christ.  The real proof of friendship will come only through our willingness to bear one another’s burden.  What are some of these burdens?  They could be illness, discouragement, misunderstanding, or as Augustine implies: anger, envy, impatience, pride and in other words, the very burden of sin itself, in our lives and in that of our fellow religious.

Friendship requires frankness and truthfulness but also implies that we respect the human nature of our friends, than when we seek to help them, we do so with great gentleness and understanding.  According to Augustine’s view of things, there should be unspoken rule among those who live in community: they should want to be helped mutually, not only through necessary fraternal correction accomplished with love.  What a difference such an attitude could make among religious everywhere? (Moment of reflection)


LITANY IN HONOR OF SAINT AUGUSTINE

Lord, have mercy on us  
Lord, have mercy on us

Christ, have mercy on us                                                      
Christ, have mercy on us

God the Father of Heaven                                                  
Have mercy on us

God the Son, Redeemer of the World                                  
Have mercy on us

God, the Holy Spirit                                                              
Have mercy on us

Holy Trinity, one God                                                            
Have mercy on us

Mary, Mother of Jesus                                                          
Pray for us

Mary, Mother of Consolation                                                
Pray for us

Mary, Mother of Good Counsel                                              
Pray for us

St. Augustine, bright star of the Church                                
Pray for us

St. Augustine, filled with zeal for God’s glory                        
Pray for us

St. Augustine, dauntless defender of the truth                    
Pray for us

St. Augustine, the triumph of divine grace                            
Pray for us

St. Augustine, on fire with the love of God                            
Pray for us

St. Augustine, so great and so humble                                  
Pray for us

St. Augustine, prince of bishops and doctors                        
Pray for us

St. Augustine, father of monastic life                                      
Pray for us

St. Augustine, holiest of the wise and wisest of the holy      
Pray for us

Pray for us St. Augustine
That may become worthy of the promises of Christ.


CONCLUDING PRAYER

 Lord our God, you have revealed to St. Augustine the beauty of friendship that is rooted in you.  Grant that we, his friends be willing to grow in friendship with one another in the community.  May we achieved the perfection of such friendship in our heavenly home where you live and reign forever and ever.  Amen.

http://www.stthomasaquinas.org/sites/default/files/pdflibrary/StMonicaNovena.pdf

Novena to Saint Monica

Day Six

Today we pray for all those who believe in their hearts but are fearful
of judgment or institutions. May they find the support and joy of
belonging to our Church community. (Pray Novena Prayers)

Novena Prayers:

Exemplary mother of the Great Augustine, you perseveringly pursued your wayward son…not with wild threats but with prayerful cries to heaven. Intercede for all mothers in our day so that they may learn to draw their children to God. Teach us to remain close to all God’s children, even the prodigal sons and daughters who have sadly gone astray. Dear St. Monica, troubled wife and mother, many sorrows pierced your heart during your lifetime. Yet, you never despaired or lost faith. With confidence, persistence, and profound faith, you prayed daily for the conversion of your beloved husband, Patricius and your beloved son, Augustine. Grant me that same fortitude, patience, and trust in the Lord. Intercede for me, dear St. Monica, that God may favorably hear my plea for (names of those you are praying for) and grant me the grace to accept His will in all things, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God forever and ever. Amen.

Pray Hail Mary 3 times
Pray Glory Be 3 times
St. Monica, pray for us

Novena to Saint Monica

Day 5

Today we pray for those whose sins make them feel unworthy to come
to God. May they feel the warm embrace of Our Father’s loving
forgiveness. (Pray Novena Prayers)

Novena Prayer

Exemplary mother of the Great Augustine, you perseveringly
pursued your wayward son…not with wild threats but with
prayerful cries to heaven. Intercede for all mothers in our day so
that they may learn to draw their children to God.
Teach us to remain close to all God’s children, even the prodigal
sons and daughters who have sadly gone astray.
Dear St. Monica, troubled wife and mother, many sorrows
pierced your heart during your lifetime. Yet, you never despaired
or lost faith. With confidence, persistence, and profound faith,
you prayed daily for the conversion of your beloved husband,
Patricius and your beloved son, Augustine.
Grant me that same fortitude, patience, and trust in the Lord. Intercede
for me, dear St. Monica, that God may favorably hear my
plea for (names of those you are praying for) and grant me the grace
to accept His will in all things, through Jesus Christ, our Lord,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God forever and ever. Amen

Mother of Saint Augustine of Hippo 

St. Monica was born into a Christian family in Tagaste, Algeria, across the Mediterranean Sea from Rome, in 332 AD. She married a pagan, a minor Roman government official named Patricius. Christians were few and far between in those days. The marriage was blessed with three children; the oldest and most famous was Augustine. Patricius was not a model husband yet Monica prayed ceaselessly for his conversion. Her sweet piety, patience, and persistence paid off. One day, Patricius accepted baptism but he died a year after. Her son Augustine was a constant concern for Monica. Brilliant and likable, Augustine followed the example of his father. He refused to accept baptism and lived a passionate life with his mistress. For years Monica prayed, fasted, and cried silently for Augustine. God was listening. He heard and finally answered these prayers of this faithful mother. Augustine, abandoning his sinful ways, accepted baptism from St. Ambrose of Milan, on Easter Sunday, 387 AD. Augustine’s mother, St. Monica, died shortly after at the age of 55, secure in the knowledge that her son had heard God’s call and her work on earth was finished. In addition to lapsed Catholics, St. Monica is the patroness of troubled parents, battered wives, despondent mothers, widows, and alcoholics. Her feast is celebrated on August 27.

http://www.stthomasaquinas.org/sites/default/files/pdflibrary/StMonicaNovena.pdf

Novena to Saint Augustine of Hippo - Day 4

EVANGELICAL POVERTY – SIMPLICITY OF LIFESTYLE

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.


INTRODUCTION
“Sometimes when the Church had no money, Saint Augustine informed the faithful that he had nothing more that he could give to the poor.  In order to help prisoners and a great number of poor people, he had some sacred vessels, broken up and melted down.  What he then received from the sale, he distributed to the needy.”

Let us reflect on our personal values and attitudes, how far or how close are we to the values and attitudes of our Saint Augustine? (Pause)


READING: From the Book IF AUGUSTINE WERE ALIVE
Religious poverty is not simply an economic condition, but an attitude of the heart based on love: it effects should also be felt beyond the walls of the religious community in an outgoing service to others.  Jesus Christ emptied Himself when He came among us; though abundantly rich, he became poor for our sake, so that through his poverty we ourselves might be enriched.  It is a challenge to give oneself to God’s little ones.  Augustine fully understood and accepted this self-offering in his own day and was a model to his followers to go and do the same.

But beyond these material cares for the companions of his poverty, as He was accustomed to call all the poor, he also put himself out continually, to help people through various works of mercy, for he well understood that one does not leave on bread alone.  We can find a number of areas in which the poor of Christ can be better served in the world.  But this service cannot be achieved without a real spirit of self-sacrifice, a willingness to put oneself out.  Once again the challenge is laid down, to live that admirable simplicity which characterized Augustine’s life, to experience deeply within ourselves the need for God and one another, and to hunger for God and the coming of his kingdom.  The real gift that is being asked of us through evangelical poverty is nothing less than the gift of self.  Augustine challenges us to accept whole heartedly, not only the giving up of our possessions for the poor, but also in a very positive way, a meaningful following of Christ , who invites one: Come follow me. (Pause)


LITANY IN HONOR OF SAINT AUGUSTINE

Lord, have mercy on us    
Lord, have mercy on us

Christ, have mercy on us                                                      
Christ, have mercy on us

God the Father of Heaven                                                    
Have mercy on us

God the Son, Redeemer of the World                                    
Have mercy on us

God, the Holy Spirit                                                                
Have mercy on us

Holy Trinity, one God                                                              
Have mercy on us

Mary, Mother of Jesus                                                            
Pray for us

Mary, Mother of Consolation                                                  
Pray for us

Mary, Mother of Good Counsel                                              
Pray for us

St. Augustine, bright star of the Church                                
Pray for us

St. Augustine, filled with zeal for God’s glory                        
Pray for us

St. Augustine, dauntless defender of the truth                      
Pray for us

St. Augustine, the triumph of divine grace                              
Pray for us

St. Augustine, on fire with the love of God                            
Pray for us

St. Augustine, so great and so humble                                  
Pray for us

St. Augustine, prince of bishops and doctors                          
Pray for us

St. Augustine, father of monastic life                                      
Pray for us

St. Augustine, holiest of the wise and wisest of the holy        
Pray for us

Pray for us St. Augustine
That may become worthy of the promises of Christ.


CONCLUDING PRAYER
ALL: We praise you Lord by our commitment to share our resources to the poor, to give sanctuary to the people in need, to be in solidarity with one another and to line in simplicity and transparency with one another.

Give us the enduring strength to carry these in our life, so that we may be real witness to the great generosity of God.  We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.

http://www.rcam.org/novena-guide/246-novena-to-our-father-saint-augustine

Novena to the Queenship of Mary - Day 9

O my sovereign Queen and worthy Mother of my God, most holy Mary; I seeing myself, as I do, so despicable and loaded with so many sins, ought not to presume to call thee Mother, or even to approach thee; yet I will not allow my miseries to deprive me of the consolation and confidence that I feel in calling thee mother; I know well that I deserve that thou shouldst reject me; but I beseech thee to remember all that thy Son Jesus has endured for me, and then reject me if thou canst.  I am a wretched sinner, who, more than all others, have despised the infinite majesty of God: but the evil is done.  To thee have I recourse; thou canst help me; my Mother, help me.  Say not that thou canst not do so; for I know that thou art all-powerful, and that thou obtainest whatever thou desirest of God; and if thou sayest that thou wilt not help me, tell me at least to whom I can apply in this my so great misfortune.  "Either pity me," will I say with the devout St. Anselm, "O my Jesus, and forgive me, and do thou pity me, my Mother Mary, by interceding for me, or at least tell me to whom I can have recourse, who is more compassionate, or in whom I can have greater confidence than in thee.” (Prayer of Saint Alphonsus Ligouri, The Glories of Mary)

http://oratefratres1962.blogspot.com/2014/05/novena-to-queenship-of-mary-day-9.html